Musical instrument



Nov. 10, 1936. J. WILLIAMS MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Feb. .10, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG.2

INVENTOR Ja/m Wz/hams JQM XP-GBM ATTORNEY Nov. 10, 1936. .1. WILLIAMS MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Feb. 10, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENIQ} John 147/ mms BY ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 10, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT John Williams, Jersey City, N. J., assignor to 36 Claims.

This invention relates to musical instruments.

In a particular aspect, the invention has application, in connection with stringed musical instruments, for increasing, beyond that normally inherent in their construction, the characteristic volume as well as the sustaining power of instruments of ordinary, cheap construction, and to an extent that such cheaply constructed instrument easily becomes a competitor with and even more than the full equivalent of instruments costing much more for their manufacture. Among the instruments to which the invention has been applied with marked success is the guitar. The invention, it will be quite apparent, is capable of application to other stringed instruments such as the violin, banjo and so forth, with substantial improvement, and even the incorporation into the instrument, of desirable properties.

It is made possible to infuse what ordinarily would be a poortone-producing instrument, manufactured by cheap labor from low-grade materials, and sold very cheaply, merely by associating with such an instrument a device embodying certain features of the invention, with the properties 535 found only in the higher priced instruments of the same type. In fact, it has been found possible, in certain instances, to exceed, by such change, the properties of instruments many times greater in price.

For instance, sharpness of tone, a factor of extreme importance in high-grade instruments, has been accentuated and brought out to a remarkable degree when a device of the character indicated is incorporated into such low-priced instruments. Volume is increased disproportionately to the cost of the device and of its installation in the instrument. A cheap guitar, ordinarily incapable of anything but use for mediocre purposes, was made useful, by means of this tremen- 40 dous increase in volume production, for orchestral purposes.

It is an object of the invention to provide means which, when associated with a stringed instrument of ordinary construction, affects the prop- 45 erties of resonance, sound-sustenance and volume by accentuating them, the means requiring no material change in the instrument for its assembly which is effected by a simple, easy operation, requiring little skill, and the means itself 50 being simple in its construction.

In one case of a guitar, upon that wall on which the bridge was supported, the device, housed within the body of the instrument, was positioned. An opening, through that same wall, was located for cooperation with the device, the effects derived from the device being made audible through that opening as well as through other elements of the instrument. The sound qualities of the device were thereby made effective in direct conjunction with the sound vibrations from strings 5 themselves, and immediately at those portions of the strings being bowed or plucked in the use of the instrument. However, while the device was indicated to be assembled in a direct relation to that wall on which the bridge was supported so that the vibrations of that wall were transmitted to the device, efiiciency in the production of the desired effects was found to be increased when the device itself was kept out of direct contact with any portion of the instrument itself, the device being merely suspended from the wall.

While certain of the elements of the invention were found to reside in devices of varying dimensions, it was found that when the dimensions of the device approached those herein detailed, the efliciency of the instrument increased to a maximum.

One specific form of the device, to be referred to herein as the resonator, consists of a sleeve which may be of a length to extend through an opening in the bridge-supporting wall of the instrument. With the portion of the sleeve within the instrument there is associated a cylindrical cup, surrounding the sleeve and having a flanged edge extending directly into contact with the sleeve. The cup wall is formed with a plurality of openings from which a plurality of cylindrical members extend away from the cup into thev interior of the instrument, the cylindrical members being in open communication with the interior of the cup through those openings. The members at their free ends are closed off, but adjacent the closed ends of the members a number of openings are formed through the walls of the members. The sleeve extends toward the bottom of the cup within a predetermined distance, thus leaving all internal chambers of the resonator open to the air at all points. Sound vibrations, produced within these internal chambers, are made directly effective upon the air in the immediate neighborhood of the instrument. Some of these pulsations are transmitted through the opening with which the sleeve is associated, while others either function to accentuate the vibrations of the instrument itself, or travel outwardly 50 through other openings through the walls of the instrument provided for that purpose.

The resonator, being substantially entirely enclosed within the instrument, does not affect, in any manner, the appearance of the instrument. 55

The openings provided for the resonator merge very agreeably into the general design of the instrument while being continuously effective for supporting the tonal production of the instrument and increasing its efficiency.

Other objects of this invention will hereinafter be set forth, or will be apparent from the description and the drawings, in which is illustrated a guitar constructed for carrying out the invention.

The invention, however, is not intended to be restricted to any particular construction or arrangement of parts, or to any particular application of such construction, or to any specific manner of use, or to any of various details herein shown and described, as the same may be modified in various particulars or be applied in many varied relations without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, the guitar herein illustrated and described showing one form in which the invention may be embodied.

On the drawings, in which the same reference characters refer to the same parts throughout, and in which is disclosed the guitar constructed in the manner indicated:

Fig. l is a plan view of the guitar, illustrating the relation thereto of the resonator in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the instrument, on the line 2- 2 of Fig. 1, illustrating the relationship of the resonator to the bridge and other elements of the instrument;

Fig. 3 is a plan view, but on an enlarged scale, of the resonator shown; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, illustrating the construction of the resonating device and showing specific construction for retaining the device with relation to the instrument.

While the invention has been shown in association with a guitar l0, it is to be understood that, in its broader aspects, it is capable of application to other stringed musical instruments. In the particular instrument shown, there is provided a bridge l2, supported upon a wall M; over the bridge, strings l6, the ends of which are engaged in the retaining strap 18, are stretched to the tensioning keys 20 at key-box 22. The strings, extending over wall I4, first traverse playing area 24; then they extend over and along fingerboard 26 to be secured to the keys in the proper manner. The usual sound-hole 28 may be provided in the instrument.

As is well known, a guitar of this type has its resonant or sound effects produced by the vibration of the strings and of body 35) as it vibrates in response to the vibrations of bridge I2. A resonator 32, embodying certain features of this invention, shown assembled with the instrument in the manner to be described, functions for mod ifying such sound effects. The resonator itself may consist first of a shell or hollow member 34, which, for certain purposes of the invention, preferably is cylindrical. The bottom of member 34 is closed by a bottom wall 36, thus forming a cup. Extending down into this cup there is a tube or sleeve 38. An annular ring 40, seated over and closing the open end of cup 34, has its inner edge 42 engaged against the walls of sleeve 38, bearing against or being secured to the walls to assure against movement of the tube relatively to the ring.

In order that these several members shall function most favorably resonating bodies, it is intended to eliminate seams as much as possible. In this connection, cup 34 may be made from a single piece of metal by pressing or spinning into the form shown in Fig. 4, the cylindrical wall 44 being one integral piece with bottom wall 36. Ring 40 may be made as a member having an integral downturned flange 46, the flange seating over top edge 48 of the cup and being secured thereto in any desired manner, preferably by brazing or soldering, to prevent any possibility of vibration in these two elements with relation to each other. In the same manner, tube 38, made of a single piece of metal, preferably is pressed into the opening formed by edge 42 of the ring. To eliminate any relative vibration between ring and tube, these two members may be brazed or soldered together.

Tube 38 is designed to be of a length such that its lower edge 52 terminates short of bottom wall 36 a distance sufficient to provide a passage 54 between wall and tube, this passageway leading into a chamber 56 between the tube and wall 44. The top end of the tube may extend beyond ring it a section 58 sufficient that the tube may be used in the association of the resonator with the instrument in a manner to be set forth.

In addition to sound hole 28 in wall l4, another opening 60 may be provided. This opening, as appears from the drawing, is located immediately adjacent bridge l2, and, therefore, immediately at playing area 24. Through this opening extends the section 53, this section being, in a desirable case, at least of the same length as the thickness of wall l4. By properly proportioning the part, the outer edge of the tube may be brought flush with the outer face of that wall, or even extend beyond, as shown in Fig. 4.

A plurality of openings 62 may be formed in wall 4'1, these openings being arranged in any desired relationship to each other. In the case of each opening, a tubular member 64 is positioned to register with the opening, the member extending substantially radially away from cup 34. This particular disposition, however, is not an essential element for proper derivation of all the results desired from this combination. Tubular members 64 were found to function effectually when their outer ends 65 were closed by walls 58. These Walls may be formed by dished members 58, the flanged edges 10 of which are seated over the ends of members 64, and brazed or soldered together to retain the dished and tubular members against relative vibration. It was found highly desirable that members 68 be dished, although a plane, flat surface was found to be efficacious in attaining certain of the results described.

At a distance inwardly from the walled end of member M, a plurality of openings 12 are formed through the tubular wall of member 64. The number of these openings may be varied in accordance with the particular type of instrument with which a device of this character is to be associated and also with other functions to be derived from the apparatus.

To assemble the device with the instrument, any suitable method may be applied. For efficient operation, it was found desirable that no portion of the body of the resonator itself should directly contact with any part of wall M or any other part of the instrument itself, such direct contact seemingly having an undesired damping effect on the volume-increasing function of the resonator. Also, such direct contact may deaden the sound-sustaining qualities of the resonator, although the resonator may be supported in manner.

.gave very efficient results.

- openings 18 in the ring. These posts may be fixedly associated with the ring in any desired In this case, the posts are shown as headed members, the heads being brazed or soldered to the ring where they are in abutment therewith. The outer ends of the posts are pro vided with threads for the reception of nuts 80; by threading the nuts upon the posts, the ring, together with its associated elements, may be drawn tightly up against the spacers and thereby be retained firmly in position with relation to -wall M. In this connection, section 58 serves to locate the entire unit with relation to opening 60.

In a desired construction, in addition to these elements, a sound director 82 is associated with tube 38. Director 82, in this case, consists of a conical member 84, the largest diameter of which is less than that of tube 38, while the altitude of the cone is substantially the same as the length of tube 38, so that the peak or apex 86 of the cone will be located substantially with relation to bottom wall 36 in the same dimensional manner as is the lower edge 52 of tube 38.

The director may be assembled with the apparatus in any particular manner, as, for instance,

by having arms 90 extending outwardly from the peripheral edge 92 of the cone base to contact with top edge 94 of the tube, there to be secured by any suitable means. However, in the construction illustrated, an escutcheon 96 is provided with which arms 96 are connected, in one construction, escutcheon, arms and cone being formed from a single piece of metal, spun into the desired shape. Openings 98, through the escutcheon portionof the formed metal, define arms 90. In the escutcheon, a plurality of holes I are provided through which posts 16 may be extended. Nuts -80, when threaded down uponthe posts, will engage the escutcheon and force it against the outer face of wall l4 and also edge 94 in those cases where the tube extends through opening 60 sufliciently to provide a projection above wall M.

The particular construction herein has been described as made up in metal. The results attained by this particular type of construction have been amazing in the beneficial eifects upon the general over-all efficiency of the unit. However, the construction of the resonator from materials other than metal, or from metal other than the brass which was utilized in the particular construction described, is possible without sacrificing material elements of invention derived from use of the resonator.

It was found that, in a particular resonator used with a guitar, certain dimensions were most effective in attaining the. results desired. For instance, a cup 34 having a height of approximately 2% inches and a diameter of six inches, together with members 64, each of which was about 4% inches long and had six openings 12 approximately one inch from the outer end of the tube, For a construction of this character, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3,

. three members, 64, -desig nated I 02, extended into the belly I04 of the guitar, while two members,

designated 1 06, extended upwardly toward sound hole 28. The members last mentioned were not apparent through the hole except upon close inspection, and thereby did not detract in any measure from the appearance of the instrument. It was found that when the extreme outer edges of walls 66 were approximately eleven inches apart, in the case of the outer members of those designated I02, and seven inches apart in the case of the members designated I06, very efiicient reproduction were secured.

Also, for these purposes, it was found that a sleeve of about four inches diameter, and spaced from the bottom wall 36 about one-half inch,

and extending above the annular ring 46 about three-eighths of an inch, effectuated the results in a desired manner. Director 82 extended to a position within about one-half inch of bottom wall 36.

The length of members 64 was found to have a substantial bearing upon the efficiency of the resonator, shorter tubes, as well as longer tubes beyond a cerain predetermined limit, having a reduced effect upon the sound-producing qualities of the instrument, although, to a marked degree, they favorably affected those qualities. It may be said that, in this one construction, the maximum efliciency was obtained with members approximately 4% inches long. The length of the members has been found to have an effect upon different strings of the instrument, longer members extending the effect of strings of lower pitch to a greater degree than the shorter members, the latter extending the higher pitched strings in a like manner.

Not only has it been found that the resonance of the instrument, as a unit, has been increased by the installation of a device of this character, but, in fact, sharpness of tone has been attained, while the volume and increased sustaining power, rather than having been sacrificed, even appeal to a point where they compare admirably with, if they are not, in many cases, in excess of those inherent in instruments of many times higher price. In such higher priced instruments, extreme care is necessary in their manufacture and the materials which are used for such instruments require the highest type of selection and inspection, being derived from the best sources. All of these increase the expense of manufacture of such instruments to many times more than the total cost of the instrument and its asso- 'ciated resonator herein described.

Many changes could be effected in the particular apparatus herein described, and in the methods of assembly set forth, and in specific details thereof, without substantially departing from the invention intended to be defined in the claims, the specific description herein merely illustrating one type of apparatus and one association carrying out features of the invention.

What is claimed as new and useful is:-

1. In a stringed musical instrument including: a body portion providing a sounding box for the vibrating strings of the instrument; a bridge carried by a wall of the body portion, the bridge transmitting the vibrations of the strings to that wall; and a resonator suspended within the body positioned at an opening through that wall, and a tube opening into and extending away from the shell beneath and substantially parallel to that wall.

2. ma stringed musical instrument including;

a body portion providing a sounding box for the vibrating strings of the instrument; a bridge carried by a wall of the body portion, the bridge transmitting the vibrations of the strings to that wall; and a resonator suspended within the body portion and from that wall, the resonator including a shell having an open end, the open end being positioned at an opening through that wall, and a plurality of tubes opening into and extending away from the shell beneath and substantially parallel to that wall, the tubes being angularly related to each other.

3. In a stringed musical instrument including: a body portion providing a sounding box for the vibrating strings of the instrument; a bridge carried by a wall of the body portion, the bridge transmitting the vibrations of the strings to that wall; and a resonator suspended within the body portion and from that wall, the resonator including a shell having an open end and a closed end, the open end being positioned at an opening through that wall.

4. In a stringed musical instrument including: a body portion providing a sounding box for the vibrating strings of the instrument; a bridge carried by a wall of the body portion, the bridge transmitting the vibrations of the strings to that wall; and a resonator suspended within the body portion and from that wall, the resonator including a shell having an open end and a closed end, and a second shell seated in said open end, the open end being positioned at an opening through that wall.

5. In a stringed musical instrument including: a body portion providing a sounding box for the vibrating strings of the instrument; a bridge car ried by a wall of the body portion, the bridge transmitting the vibrations of the strings to that wall; and a resonator suspended within the body portion and from that wall, the resonator including a shell having an open end and a closed end, and a second shell seated in said open end to extend into the first shell and terminate short of the closed end, the open end being positioned at an opening through that wall.

6. In a stringed musical instrument including: a. body portion providing a sounding box for the vibrating strings of the instrument; a bridge carried by a wall of the body portion, the bridge transmitting the vibrations of the strings to that wall; and a resonator suspended within the body portion. and from that wall, the resonator including a shell having an open end and a closed end, a second shell seated in said open end to extend into the first shell and terminate short of the closed end, the open end being positioned at an opening through that wall, a wall of the first shell having a plurality of openings therethrough, and a plurality of tubes at said openings extending away from the shell beneath and substantially in the same general direction as the direction of the wall away from the shell.

'7. In a stringed musical instrument including: a body portion providing a sounding box for the vibrating strings of the instrument; a bridge carried by a wall of the body portion, the bridge transmitting the vibrations of the strings to that wall; and a resonator suspended within the body portion and from that wall the resonator including a shell having an open end, the open end being positioned at an opening through that wall, and a tube extending from the shell and opening thereinto, the end of the tube beyond the shell being closed, the tube having a plurality of perforations formed therethrough adjacent the closed end thereof.

8. A resonator for a musical instrument comprising a plurality of shells, one of the shells having closed end, the other shell being supported by the first shell to extend into and out of said first shell, and a tube extending from the first shell and opening thereinto at the space between the two shells.

9. A sound-controlling unit for musical instruments, the unit being constructed to reinforce the normal sound-producing and sound-sustaining effects of such instrument, the unit including a cylindrical cup, the wall of the cup having an opening therein, a closed end tube attached to the wall at the opening, and a sleeve extending into the cup through the open mouth thereof and terminating short of the bottom of the cup.

10. A sound-controlling unit for musical instruments, the unit being constructed to reinforce the normal sound-producing and sound-sustaining efiects of such instrument, the unit including a cylindrical cup, the wall of the cup having an opening therein, a closed end tube attached to the wall at the opening, a sleeve extending into the cup through the open mouth thereof and terminating short of the bottom of the cup, and a member housed within the sleeve, the member having outwardly diverging walls.

11. A sound-controlling unit for musical instruments, the unit being constructed to reinforce the normal sound-producing and sound-sustaining eifects of such instrument, the unit including a cylindrical cup, the wall of the cup having an opening therein, a closed end tube attached to the wall at the opening, a sleeve extending into the cup through the open mouth thereof and terminating short of the bottom of the cup, and a sonically shaped member housed within the sleeve, the walls of the member being outwardly divergent.

12. In a stringed instrument construction including a sound board body; a plurality of strings for the instrument; a bridge for securing cooperation between the strings and a wall of the body; and a device supported within the body, the wall having an opening therethrough, the device including a sleeve extending through the opening, and a cylindrical cup within the body and surrounding the sleeve, the device functionating to accentuate the sound-producing qualities of the strings.

13. In a stringed instrument construction including a sound board body; a plurality of strings for the instrument; a bridge for securing cooperation between the strings and a wall of the body; and a device supported within the body, the wall having an opening therethrough, the device including a sleeve extending through the opening, a cylindrical cup within the body and surrounding the sleeve, the sleeve terminating short of the bottom of the cup, and a plurality of tubes opening into the cup through the cylindrical wall thereof, the device functioning to accentuate the sound-producing qualities of the strings.

14. In a stringed instrument construction including a sound board body; a plurality of strings for the instrument; a bridge for securing cooperation between the strings and a wall of the body; and a device supported within the body, the wall having an opening therethrough, the device including a sleeve extending through the opening, a cylindrical cup within the body and surrounding the sleeve, the sleeve terminating short of the bottom of the cup, a plurality of tubes opening into the cup through the cylindrical wall thereof, and walls closing the free ends of the tubes, there being openings through the tube walls at the ends, the device functioning to accentuate the sound-producing qualities of the strings.

15. In a stringed instrument construction in cluding a sound board body; a plurality of strings for the instrument; a bridge for securing cooperation between the strings and a wall of the body; and a device supported within the body, the wall having an opening therethrough, the device including a sleeve extending through the opening, a cylindrical cup within the body and surrounding the sleeve, the sleeve terminating short of the bottom of the cup, the cup having a wall extending toward the sleeve and closing the space between the cup and the sleeve, a plurality of tubes opening into the cup through the cylindrical wall thereof, and walls closing the free ends of the tubes, there being openings from the tubes adjacent the walls at the ends, the device function.- ing to accentuate the sound-producing qualities of the strings.

16. In a stringed instrument construction including a sound board body; a plurality of strings for the instrument; a bridge for securing cooperation between the strings and a wall of the body; and a device supported within the body, the wall having an opening therethrough immediately at the bridge, the device including a sleeve extending through the opening, a cylindrical cup within the body and surrounding the sleeve, the sleeve terminating short of the bottom of the cup, the cup having a wall extending toward and engaging the sleeve and closing the space between the cup and the sleeve, a plurality of tubes opening into the cup through the cylindrical wall thereof, walls closing the free ends of the tubes, there being openings from the tubes adjacent the walls at the ends, a conically shaped member supported externally of the body and extending within the sleeve, the walls of the member diverging outwardly, the member having a flange, and means for engaging the flange and the spaceclosing wall to retain the device assembled relatively to the body wall, the device functioning to accentuate the sound-producing qualities of the strings.

17. The combination with a musical instrument comprising a vibratory body portion having a wall, and a plurality of strings associated with the wall and cooperating therewith in the production of musical tones from the instrument, of a resonator for the instrument, the resonator being secured to the instrument at said wall, the resonator including a sleeve within the instrument, and a plurality of tubes extending relatively to said sleeve.

18. The combination with a musical instrument comprising a vibratory body portion having a wall, and a plurality of strings associated with the wall and cooperating therewith in the production of musical tones from the instrument, of

y a resonator for the instrument, the resonator being supported within the instrument from said wall, the resonator including a plurality of tubesv extending relatively to said wall.

19. The combination with a musical instrument comprising a vibratory body portion having a wall, and a plurality of strings associated with the wall and cooperating therewith in the production of musical tones from the instrument, of a resonator for the instrument, the resonator being supported within the instrument from said wall, the

resonator including a tubular member, and a plurality of tubes within the instrument extending relatively to said wall and the tubular member.

20. The combination with a musical instrument comprising a vibratory body portion having a wall, a plurality of strings, a support carried upon the wall, the support providing means for retaining the strings properly in association with the wall to cooperate therewith in the production of musical tones from the instrument, and an opening through the wall immediately at the support, of a resonator for the instrument, the resonator being mounted at said opening, the resonator including a plurality of tubes extending relatively to said wall.

21. For a stringed musical instrument including a body portion providing a sounding box for the vibrating strings of the instrument, and a bridge carried by a wall of the body portion, the bridge transmitting the vibrations of the strings to that wall; a resonator suspended within the body portion and from that wall, the resonator including a shell having an open end, the open end being positioned at an opening through that wall, and a tube within the instrument extending from the shell and opening thereinto.

22. For a stringed musical instrument including a body portion providing a sounding box for the vibrating strings of the instrument, and a bridge carried by a wall of the body portion, the

bridge transmitting the vibrations of the strings to that wall; a resonator suspended within the body portion and from that wall, the resonator including a shell having an open end and having an opening in a wall thereof, the open end being positioned at an opening through the body portion wall, and a tube extending beneath the body portion wall away from the shell and opening into the shell through the opening in the shell wall.

23. In a stringed musical instrument including: a body portion providing a sounding box for the vibrating strings of the instrument; a bridge carried by a wall of the body portion, the bridge transmitting the vibrations of the strings to that wall; and a resonator suspended within the body portion and from that wall, the resonator including a shell having an open end and having openings in the shell walls, the open end being positioned at an opening through the body portion wall, and a plurality of tubes opening into the shell through said openings and extending away from the shell beneath and substantially in the same general direction as the direction in which the body portion wall extends away from the shell.

24. For a stringed musical instrument including a body portion providing a sounding box for the vibrating strings of the instrument, and a bridge carried by a wall of the body portion, the bridge transmitting the vibrations of the strings to that Wall; a resonator suspended within the body portion and from that wall, the resonator including a shell having an open end and a closed end, and a second shell seated in said open end and extending into the first shell, the open end being positioned at an opening through that wall.

25. For a stringed musical instrument including a body portion providing a sounding box for the vibrating strings of the instrument, and a bridge carried by a wall of the body portion, the bridge transmitting the vibrations of the strings to that wall; a resonator suspended within the body portion and from that wall, the resonator including a shell having an open end and a closed end, a second shell seated in said open end to extend into the first shell and terminate short of the closed end, the open end being positioned at an opening through that wall, a Wall of the first shell having a plurality of openings therethrough, and a plurality of tubes extending away from the shell at said openings.

26. In a stringed musical instrument including: a body portion providing a sounding box for the vibrating strings of the instrument; a bridge carried by a wall of the body portion, the bridge transmitting the vibrations of the strings to that wall; and a resonator suspended within the body portion and from that wall, the resonator including a shell having an open end and a closed end, a second shell seated in said open end to extend into the first shell and terminate short of the closed end, the open end being positioned at an opening through that wall, the walls of the first shell having a plurality of openings there through, and a plurality of tubes at said openings extending away from the shell beneath and substantially in the same general direction as the extent of that wall, the tubes being angularly related to each other.

2'7. For a stringed musical instrument including a body portion providing a sounding box for the vibrating strings of the instrument, and a bridge carried by a wall of the body portion, the bridge transmitting the vibrations of the strings to that wall; a resonator suspended within the body portion and from that wall, the resonator including a shell having an open end, the open end being positioned at an opening through that wall, and a tube extending from the shell and opening thereinto, the end of the tube beyond the shell being closed.

28. For a stringed musical instrument including: a body portion providing a sounding box for the vibrating strings of the instrument, and a bridge carried by a wall of the body portion, the bridge transmitting the vibrations of the strings to that wall; a resonator suspended within the body portion and from that wall, the resonator including a shell having an open end, the open end being positioned at an opening through that wall, and a tube extending from the shell and opening thereinto, the end of the tube beyond the shell being closed, the tube being perforated adjacent the closed end thereof.

29. A sound-controlling unit for musical instruments, the unit being constructed to reinforce the normal sound-producing and soundsustaining effects of such instrument, the unit including a cup-shaped member, the member having an open mouth, the wall of the cup having a plurality of openings formed therein, closed end tubes attached to the wall at the openings and extending away from the wall, and a sleeve extending into the cup through the open mouth.

30. A sound-controlling unit for musical instruments, the unit being constructed to reinforce the normal sound-producing and soundsustaining effects of such instrument, the unit including a cylindrical cup, the cup having an open mouth, the wall of the cup having an opening therein, a tube having one end attached to and opening through the wall at the opening and having the free end closed, and a sleeve extending into the cup through the open mouth.

31. A sound-controlling unit for musical instruments, the unit being constructed to reinforce the normal sound-producing and soundsustaining efiects of such instrument, the unit including a cup-shaped member, the member having an open mouth, the wall of the cup having a plurality of openings formed therein, tubes each attached to and opening through the wall at one of the openings and extending radially away from the wall, and a sleeve extending into the cup through the open mouth.

32. For a stringed instrument construction including a sound board body, a plurality of strings for the instrument, and a bridge for securing cooperation between the strings and a wall of the body; a device supported within the body, the wall having an opening therethrough, the device including a sleeve extending through the opening, a cylindrical cup within the body and surrounding the sleeve, the sleeve terminating short of the bottom of the cup, a plurality of tubes opening into the cup through the cylindrical wall thereof, and walls closing the free ends of the tubes, the device functioning to accentuate the sound-producing qualities of the strings.

33. For a stringed instrument construction including a sound board body, a plurality of strings for the instrument, and a bridge for securing cooperation between the strings and a wall of the body; a device supported within the body, the wall having an opening therethrough, the device including a sleeve extending through the opening, a cylindrical cup Within the body and surrounding the sleeve, the sleeve terminating short of the bottom of the cup, the cup having a wall extending toward and engaging the sleeve and closing the space between the cup and the sleeve, a plurality of tubes opening into the cup through the cylindrical wall thereof, and walls closing the free ends of the tubes, there being openings from the tubes adjacent the walls at the ends, the device functioning to accentuate the soundproducing qualities of the strings.

34. For a stringed instrument construction including a sound board body, a plurality of strings for the instrument, and a bridge for securing cooperation between the strings and a wall of the body; a device supported within the body, the wall having an opening therethrough, the device including a sleeve extending through the opening, a cylindrical cup within the body and surrounding the sleeve, the sleeve terminating short of the bottom of the cup, the cup having a wall extending toward and engaging the sleeve and closing the space between the cup and the sleeve, a plurality of tubes opening into the cup through the cylindrical wall thereof, walls closing the free ends of the tubes, there being openings from the tubes adjacent the walls at the ends, and a conically shaped member within the sleeve, the walls of the member diverging outwardly, the device functioning to accentuate the sound-producing qualities of the strings.

35. For a stringed instrument construction including a sound board body, a plurality of strings for the instrument, and a bridge for securing cooperation between the strings and a wall of the body; a device supported within the body, the wall having an opening therethrough, the device including a sleeve extending through the opening, a cylindrical cup within the body and surrounding the sleeve, the sleeve terminating short of the bottom of the cup, the cup having a wall extending toward and engaging the sleeve and closing the space between the cup and the sleeve, a plurality of tubes opening into the cup through the cylindrical wall thereof, walls closing the free ends of the tubes, there being openings from the tubes adjacent the walls at the ends, and a conically shaped member supported externally of the body and extending within the sleeve, the walls of the member diverging outwardly, the device functioning to accentuate the sound-producing qualities of the strings.

36. In a stringed instrument construction including a sound board body; a plurality of strings for the instrument; a bridge for securing cooperation between the strings and a wall of the body; and a device supported within the body, the wall having an opening therethrough, the device including a sleeve extending through the opening, a cylindrical cup within the body and surrounding the sleeve, the sleeve terminating short of the bottom of the cup, the cup having a wall extending toward and engaging the sleeve and closing the space between the cup and the sleeve, a plurality of tubes opening into the cup through the cylindrical wall thereof, walls closing the free ends of the tubes, there being openings from the tubes adjacent the walls at the ends, a conically shaped member supported externally of the body and extending within the sleeve, the walls of the member diverging outwardly, the member having a flange, and means for engaging the flange and the space-closing wall to retain the device assembled relatively to the body wall, the device functioning to accentuate the sound-producing qualities of the strings.

JOHN WILLIAMS. 

